I agree with Suzeeq, however I’d like to add this: if you rip down to the affected area, use a needle at least 3 sizes smaller.[U] It really helps to “scoop” the live stitches sitting there[/U].
And when you begin to re-knit, just knit that first row right off of the smaller needle. [U]No need to transfer all those stitches onto the gauge needle[/U]. Just be sure to [I]put the smaller needle away[/I] after that first row…don’t mistakenly keep knitting with it. That’s why I use a radically smaller needle for picking up live stitches. I keep a US4 right by me, dangling from my pencil cup. And I usually knit with US8 and US9’s. The US4 is my picker-upper! We veteran knitters have to frog back to correct errors, too!